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Cardiomyopathy (literally translated as an abnormality within the heart muscle) refers to a group of diseases related to the structure and function of this organ. It is usually associated with heart defects, coronary artery disease and / or hypertension.
Cardiomyopathy
The diagnosis of cardiomyopathy is not easy. In order to make the diagnosis correctly, a number of diagnostic tests must be performed.
In the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, the most frequently used methods are: ECHO of the heart, ECG, endomyocardial biopsy and the method of cardiac catheterization (catheterization allows to determine the pressure in the heart cavity and large vessels as well as the oxygen level in the blood).
Diseases belonging to this group of diseases are most often caused by congenital or acquired defects. Other internal organs may develop abnormalities in cardiomyopathy.
Symptoms of cardiomyopathy
Regardless of the root cause of the disease and the type of cardiomyopathy, the symptoms are very similar. Most often they include:
– pain in the chest,
– shortness of breath
– dizziness,
– palpitations,
Weakness
– repeated fainting.
WHO (World Health Organization) has divided this disease into five types, due to the cause and course of the disease.
WHO classification of cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy rozstrzeniowia
It is characterized by a thinning of the heart walls within its chambers. Changes in the structure of striated muscle cells are observed – there is an overgrowth of cell nuclei (cardiomyocytes) without cell enlargement. Perivascular and interstitial fibrosis may coexist.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
The disease is genetically determined. Occurring lesions hinder the stretching of the fibers of the heart muscle – and its physiological work. This means it is difficult to fill your heart with blood. This is the rarest type of cardiomyopathy.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Genetically determined disease. It is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy.
Arrhythmogenic (right ventricular) cardiomyopathy
Rare genetic cardiomyopathy. This type of disease significantly increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and is characterized by dilatation of the right ventricle and degeneration of the fatty type of this organ.
Nieklasyfikowane cardiomyopathy
There is a very detailed classification of cardiomiapathy created by the American Heart Association. At the first level, it classifies the disease types according to primary or secondary occurrence, then distinguishes a number of factors and diseases that cause a given cardiomyopathy.
Simplified classification of cardiomyopathy according to AHA
Cardiomyopathy primary:
Genetic
Mixed
Acquired
Cardiomyopathy wtórne:
Invasive cardiomyopathies
Cardiomyopathies in the course of storage diseases
Cardiomyopathies caused by poisoning
Cardiomyopathy endomiocardialne
Inflammatory (granulomatous) cardiomyopathies
Diseases of the endocrine glands
Cardio-facial cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathies in the course of neuromuscular diseases or diseases of the nervous system
Cardiomyopathies as a result of nutritional deficiencies
Cardiomyopathies in the course of autoimmune diseases or collagen diseases
Treatment of cardiomyopathy
Treatment is closely related to the type of cardiomyopathy diagnosed. Therapy may be drug treatment or surgical intervention. In pharmacotherapy, drugs are primarily used to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and affect blood clotting.
In extreme cases of disease advancement, heart transplantation may be the only effective treatment.
See also: Take control of the wreath – what after the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease?